Price is right for Warriors ace Ali to take on Wales
GLASGOW Warriors scrum-half Ali Price is ready to step into the breach for Scotland if injury rules Greig Laidlaw out of the Six Nations Championship match against Wales a week on Saturday.
The 23-year-old replaced the captain in the first half of the 22-16 defeat by France on Sunday, and although he was critical of his performance, he would love to start the match against the Welsh.
Price said: “I’d be ready if my name was called and I would put in the same prep I’ve been putting in for all these games. I’d talk with the 10, talk with the coaches. I’d be in a good place”
Laidlaw’s availability is still in doubt after Scottish Rugby released a statement yesterday saying only that he had been released back to his club, Gloucester.
The captain left the Stade de France on crutches after injuring an ankle. Several other players will also have to have their injuries monitored before being cleared to play against the Welsh.
Back-row forwards John Barclay and his replacement John Hardie both sustained head knocks in the game and are subject to the completion of the HIA [head-injury assessment] process.
Josh Strauss suffered a heavy blow to his flank and will require further care and assessment.
If Laidlaw is not cleared to play against Wales, Price will face a fight for the No.9 jersey with Warriors teammate Henry Pyrgos. Price’s inexperience could count against him, and he admitted he had been a bit hot-headed at first against the French, pushing an opponent to the ground.
He said: “To be honest, I showed a bit of inexperience when I first came on, because I gave away a stupid penalty when I didn’t need to. There was a rush of blood on my part. I hold my hand up.
“I feel that if we get a penalty and the ball is there I can take the tap and be gone before they have set. In the worst case we get another 10 metres.
“But after that I thought I got myself into the game. I thoroughly enjoyed the occasion.
“It was the biggest game of my life. It’s just a disappointment that we didn’t come away with the win.”